Multiple level movable roadway for tunnels



Jan.. 30, 1968 J. D. JACOBS MULTIPLE LEVEL MOVABLE ROADWAY FOR TUNNELS Filed March 2, 1965 4 Sheets-S eet l Jan. 3o, 196s J. D4. JACOBS 3,365,895

MULTIPLE LEVEL MOVABLE ROADWAY FOR TUNNELS Filed MaI'Ch 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 62 iid f/ Jan. 30, 1968 .1. D. .JAcoBs 3,365,895

MULTIPLE LEVEL MOVABLE ROADWAY FOR TUNNELS Filed March 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 INVENTOR.

` Jan. 3o, 196s J D, JACOBS Y 3,365,895

MULTIPLE LEVEL MOVABLE ROADWAY FOR TUNNELS.

Filed March 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. ,s .`l 4] my... 4' A Y AQ @A B M CM1 ,wrom/5K United States Patent C 3,365,895 MULTIPLE LEVEL MVABLE ROADWAY FUR TUNNELS Il. Donovan Jacobs, San Rafael, Calif. Jacobs Associates, Inc., 503 Market St., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed Mar. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 436,479

14 Claims. (Cl. 61-84) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A longitudinally slidable roadway for tunnel construction has a front portion at the level of the floor of the tunnel sloping upward-rearward, an elevated portion above the floor and a downward-rearward portion extending to the level of the floor. The elevated portion provides access below the roadway for men and equipment to concrete the door. The portions are hydraulically advanced sequentially in longitudinal sliding manner and such advance is facilitated by supporting the portions on transverse rings installed in the tunnel as construction progresses.

This invention relates to a new and improved multiple level movable roadway for tunnel construction. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus to be installed in a tunnel and moved forwardly as construction of the tunnel progresses and charracterized by the fact that a portion of the roadway at the front of the device is approximately at the level of the door of the tunnel and another portion to the rear of front portion is elevated to a position substantially above the floor of the tunnel and a final portion is depressed to the level of the tunnel floor. The intermediate or elevated portion provides access `below the roadway for workmen and equipment to install concrete flooring.

Conventional tunnel construction practice requires, after blasting or otherwise excavating the forward end of the tunnel, removal of muck by a mucking machine which deposits the material in cars which are moved to the exterior and dumped. The next step is to pour concrete on the floor of the tunnel as a preliminary step in construction of the concrete lining of the tunnel. These steps are not conducted simultaneously because men and equipment employed interfere with each other. The present invention provides a method and apparatus whereby the concreting of the tunnel bottom may be carried out while the mucking operation is proceeding at a location in advance of the concrete. Thus the time required to complete the tunnel is materially reduced A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for advancing the tracltway or roadway for the equipment as the construction progresses. In this connection, a preferred form of the present invention employs an adaptation of the method and apparatus disclosed in my Patent No. 3,138,327. It will be understood, however, that other means may be used to advance the roadway.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously mucking and placing concrete by means of an elevated trackway or road'bed at an intermediate position in the system. The space below the elevated tracltway provides access for cleaning the invert and concreting the bottom of the tunnel while the muck cars which are transporting material out of the tunnel continue to operate above the level of the iioor.

Further, the invention provides for longitudinal movement of the drilling jumbo from its operative position at the face of the tunnel to a rearward location while the other operations previously mentioned continue. This feature of the invention further improves the time requirements for construction.

3,3%,895 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a schematic plan partly broken away to conserve space of a multiple level movable roadway in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical mid-section of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the forward portion of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view `similar to FIG. 3, of a portion to the rear of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 3, of a portion to the rear of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 10 are fragmentary enlarged sectional views taken substantially along the corresponding lines of FIGS. 3 to 5, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged detail section View taken substantially along the line 9 9 of FIG. 4.

The present invention is designed for use in connection with construction of a long tunnel 2l., here shown to be circular in cross-section. In this form of the invention, at spaced intervals as the construction progresses, circular rings 22 formed of beams are installed to support the tunnel walls. Rings 22 are fabricated in sections and assembled at joints 23. Random `size blocking 24 centers the rings in the tunnel. As hereinafter appears, part of the frame of the apparatus is supported by rings 22.

In the construction of the tunnel, equipment of conventional type is used in conjunction with the apparatus which is the subject of this invention and moved on trackways. Such construction equipment may include the following:

(a) A jumbo or platform (not shown) movable longitudinally of the tunnel which in one position is located at the forward end of face 26 of the tunnel to support men and equipment to drill and set blasting materials. To prevent damage to the jumbo while blasting occurs, the jumbo is supported on gantry rails 27 to permit the equipment to be moved to the rear of the face a sufficient distance so that the explosion does not damage equipment.

(b) A mucking machine 28, which is also movable longitudinally of the tunnel on tracks 29 and provides means for clearing out the muck or blasted material at the face of the tunnel by excavating material from the floor and depositing the same in cars 3i.

(c) Muck cars 3l which receive the material from the mocking machine and are moved longitudinally on tracks 29 to the exterior and dumped. In the present invention, the gauge of the mucking machine and muck rails 29 is substantially less than that of the gantry rails 27 of the jumbo.

(d) Various pieces of equipment, not herein illustrated or described in detail, such as concrete agitator 32 which clean the bottom of the tunnel and set the forms for concreting the invert 33, pour the concrete and set rail 34 on the invert ywhich will be used subsequently for further construction work in the tunnel.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus which enables all of the foregoing equipment to be operated practically simultaneously without interference.

In the description which follows, the jumbo, mucking machine, and muck cars, are provided with flanged wheels and the roadbed is provided with rails. However, it will be understood that in place of ilanged wheels the equipment may be furnished with tires or crawler tracks, in which case the use of rail is not necessary. Adaptation i of the invention to such construction will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

In Patent No. 3,138,327, various means are illustrated and described for moving the trackway as tunnel construction progresses by what may be termed an inchworm method. The present invention uses an adaptation of the system of FIGS. 1 to 2E, of that patent but differs in elevating the middle of the trackway in order to provide space below for the concreting operation and further providing ramps at either end of the elevated portion. However, it will -be understood that means other than the inchworrn method may be used for advancing the trackways, and that instead of the trackways sections being separated sequentially as they advance, the entire trackway or a portion thereof may be moved as a unit.

Turning now to the details of the invention, tunnel 21 is `substantially circular in cross-section and is supported at spaced intervals by circular rings 22 formed of steel wide flange material, each ring being separable into sections at joints 23 in order to facilitate installation. The rings are centered in the bore of the tunnel by blocking 24 of random sizes. A clip 36 is welded at each side of ring 22 elevated a fixed distance above the lbottom of the tunnel, preferably about one-fourth the height of the tunnel, clips 36 providing a means for support of the frame hereinafter described in detail. Each clip 36 may consist of angle having one horizontal and one inward facing vertical flange.

The face 26 of the tunnel is shown in FIG. 3 as the mucking operation is being completed at one stage. Immediately following this operation, the mucking machine 28 will be moved rearwardly on tracks 29 out of danger and a jumbo (not shown) supporting drilling equipment and personnel will be moved on tracks 27 into position at face 26, holes will be drilled, explosives installed in the holes, the jumbo moved back a safe distance and blasting conducted. After blasting, the muck or blasted material will litter the door of the tunnel and it will then be necessary to bring mucking machine 28 back into the position shown in FIG. 3 to load the material onto muck cars 31 which are moved out of the tunnel and dumped. As the tunnel operation proceeds, it is necessary to provide one trackway 29 (which may be double track at one or more positions) or roadbed for the mucking machine and cars. A second track 27 of wider gauge is used for the jumbo. The two tracks are mounted on the frame and the frame is moved longitudinally as required. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 1, the frame is divided into four sections designated by letters, A, B, C, and D, each of the sections being separable `from the other and being movable by hydraulic cylinders, as is described in detail in Patent No. 3,138,327, to which reference is made.

Section A is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. It will be noted that in this section the trackways are not supported by clips 36 on rings 22, thereby contrasting with sections hereinafter described in detail. On the contrary, a steel plate trough 37 rests upon the top edges of rings 22, sliding longitudinally along the rings. Trough 37 slopes upwardly-rearwardly at a moderate grade, such as 2%.

In FIG. 6, which is taken adjacent the forward end of the tunnel, trough 37 is reinforced at intervals by transverse arcuately shaped beams 38 which are cut away at 39 in the center to provide clearance for the scoop of mucker machine 28. Longitudinal bars 4I are positioned to either side of cut-away portion 39 and constitute trackways for the flanged forward wheels of mucking machine 28. Use of bars 41 instead of conventional rails reduces height. The upper ends of transverse beams 38 are rigidiiied by longitudinal structure members 42 lhaving transverse horizontal feet 43 which, in turn, support longitudinal beams 411 on which rest longitudinal bars 46 for the gantry wheels of the jumbo (not shown). As has previously been stated, the gauge of the jumbo wheels is greatly in excess of the gauge of the mucker and muck cars. As shown in FIG. 7, rearwardly of the section at which FIG. 6 is taken, the longitudinal bars 4116 are replaced by longitudinal rails 27 of conventional shape. Transverse members 47 are attached to beams 38 and are supported immediately below rails 29 by vertical supports 48, the elevation of transverse horizontal supports 47 and the length of the vertical supports i3 increasing proceeding reanwardly.

At the rearward end of section A, as best shown in FIG. 3, a hydraulic cylinder 5ft is provided on each side, the piston 52 of each cylinder being pivotally connected to the rearward end of one of the longitudinal members i2 and the cylinder 51 being pivotally connected to the forward end of a corresponding longitudinal member 42 of section B. When pressure is applied to cylinder 51, piston 52 extends and since the weight of sections B, C, and D is greatly in excess of that of section A, section A slides forwardly while the rearward sections B, C, and D are stationary. Above piston 5I is a bridge 53 which supports bridging gantry rails 27a aligned with rails 27. Bridge 53 may be replaced with a bridge of greater length in the extended position of the piston to provide for continuous movement of the cars and mucker and jumbo whether the cylinder is in projected or retracted position. Temporary bridging muck rails (not shown) may be used to bridge the gap between rails 29 in the extended position of the piston.

Section B (see FIG. l) comprises a forward switch 56 of the mucker car trackways and is double tracked (29L, 29K) rearwardly thereof to permit passing of empty and filled cars 31. Section B further comprises a ramp 57 (see FIG. 2) wherein the rails of the mucker car tracks are at a slope within the tractability of the hauling equipment and rearwardly of ramp 57 is a horizontal section 58 of extended length wherein the mucker track `rails 29L and 291% are elevated substantially above the floor of the tunnel to provide access to the space 59 underneath the tracks.

Whereas in section A trough 37 rested upon rings 22, in section B and in subsequent sections the frame is supported by clips 36 aixed to rings 22. Directing attention to FIG. 8, it will be seen that clips 36 support horizontal longitudinal angles 61 which can slide on clips 36 when sections B, C, and D are moved. Angles 61 support longitudinal horizontal wide flange beams 42 and gantry rails 27 rest on the tops of beams 42. Spaced at intervals along beams i2 are transverse fabricated members 62 having horizontal central portions 63 supporting the tracks 29 for the mucker cars. The transverse members are preferably formed in sections connected at joints 63 at the cen ter (FIG. 9). Because section B is a ramp section, the elevation of horizontal portion 63 constantly changes. In other words, the end connections 66 at either end of the horizontal portion 63 of transverse members 62 are of varying shape as is apparent by contrasting the end sections of FIG. 8 with FIG. 9 and note the dotted line portion of FIG. 9. The various transverse members 62 are interconnected by longitudinal tie beams 67. Timber flooring 68 is positioned on members 62 below the level of rails 29. Timbers 68 are removable to facilitate access to the area 59 `below the level of the track.

A second hydraulic cylinder is installed, as indicated by reference numeral 51a, and is used to move section B relative to section C. This cylinder operates in the same manner and is connected to the adjacent sections in the same manner as cylinder 5I. Bridge 52a is similar to bridge 52.

Section C may be termed the concreting bridge section. At this section the muck car tracks 29T., 29K are substantially horizontal and are at their maximum elevation. Timber 68 is installed as a decking between the rails. The end portions 66 of transverse members 62 slant upwardly-inwardly from the ends, so that the horizontal portion 63 is elevated above clips 36.

Directing attention to FIG. 9, there is sufficient room 59 below transverse members 62 to enable workmen and equipment to first clean out the bottom of the tunnel and then pour concrete 33 (termed invert) from agitator cars 32 on rails 29 in the bottom of the tunnel. Such an invert may have various shapes of which that shown in FIG. 9 is merely representative. Ties 72 may be installed on the top of the invert to support contractors rails 34. These rails may be used by the contractor in subsequent operations in finishing the tunnel and then removed. Further, various conduits 73, such as pump lines, which may be required to convey drainage water while clearing the bottom and concreting the invert may be attached to the underside of the bridge member.

FIG. 9 illustrates one of the important advantages of the invention. Thus the muck cars 31 may be moved along one of the tracks and the concrete agitator 32, or similar concreting equipment, moved on the other track. An important feature of the invention is that concreting and cleanup may be accomplished in space 59 while the mucking operation is proceeding a short distance ahead of the concreting.

At the rear of the concreting section is a rear switch 56a wherein the muck tracks converge to a single track and this section slopes downward. The third hydraulic cylinder (not shown) is installed between sections C and D and is of a construction and is operated in the same manner as the preceding cylinders 51, 51a.

In section D, the jumbo gantry tracks 27 may terminate at 76 and the jumbo may be parked at the forward end of section D when not in use. The ramp nature of the muck car tracks continues into section D at a rearward ramp 57u. Rearward of the termination 76 of the gantry track, the overall width of the frame is considerably less than forward of such point, and this provides access for lengths of rail and other supplies and equipment in the space 59 below the frame heretofore described.

In section D, the elevation of the platform is continuously decreasing. Thus, directing attention to FIG. 10, the support for the frame in this region is the rails 34 rather than clips 36. Thus at intervals transverse members 77 are provided with angular shoes 78 which slide longitudinally on rails 34. Upright supports 79 of varying heights are -based on transverse members 77 and the graduated height of uprights 79 provides for the ramp characteristic of this portion of the frame. The upper ends of uprights 79' carry wide, transverse members 81 which are considerably wider than rails 29 which they support but considerably less wide than the width of the frame forward of the point indicated by reference numeral 76.

Further rearward of the section shown in FIG. 10, the rails 29 are supported by graduated, vertical members 82 which rest directly on rails 34. The rearmost portion of the frame consists of fabricated climbing points 83, one for each of the two rails 29 which are triangular in side elevation as viewed in FIG. 5, and provide for the difference in elevation between the top and bottom of rails 29 to enable continuous movement of equipment from tracks 34 which extend out to the mouth ofthe tunnel and tracks 29 which lead to the face of the tunnel.

In operation, the frame is assembled in the form shown in the accompanying drawings. Assuming that the muck at the face of the tunnel has been cleared, the next operation is to provide for blasting. The jumbo is moved forward on rails 27 to the face of the tunnel and the drilling and charge setting operations are conducted. Thereupon the jumbo, mucker machine 28, cars 31, and any other equipment which is likely to be damaged is moved rearwardly away from the blasting area and thereupon the charges are ignited. A considerable amount of material then falls to the door of the tunnel. The mucking machine 28 is then moved forwardly as far as possible and begins loading material into cars 31 which are then moved to the mouth of the tunnel and dumped in accordance with conventional practice. When the machine 28 has moved as far forwardly as possible, it is then necessary to move the frame forwardly. In the form of the invention herein illustrated, section A is first moved forwardly by extension of rods 52 in cylinder 51. Because section B, C, and D are of considerably greater weight than section A, the last three sections remain stationary and section A is pushed forwardly. When it has reached the forward limit of its movement, section B is then moved forwardly into juxtaposition by simultaneously contracting rod 52 in cylinder 51 and advancing rod 52a in cylinder 51a. Section C is then moved forwardly in the same manner as section B and finally, section D is pulled up into contact with section C. Thus, the frame advances relative to the stationary rails 34. The machine 28 continues to load cars 51 and the operation is repeated as long as necessary to remove all of the material iwhich has `been loosened by the preceding blast. As the machine moves along, new `rings `22 are set in the tunnel wall and blocked in by blocking 24. This operation is accomplished by joining the sections of ring 22 at joints 23.

As the .mucking operation continues, the floor of the tunnel is cleaned out in space 59 ahead of the invert 33 which previously has been set. Thereupon, concrete forms are placed and concrete is poured. from agitator cars 32. When the inver-t has set, ties 72 and rails 34 are installed. The fact that the tunnel oor can be cleaned and the invert installed while mucking operations are continuing, materially reduces the overall time in constructing the tunnel.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced Within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a roadbed system to support movable tunnel construction equipment, an elongated frame movable longitudinally formed of a plurality of intercommunicating sections comprising a forward section having its forward end at about the level of the door of the tunnel and providing a support for construction equipment,

a forward ramp sloping upwardly-rearwardly from said forward section to accommodate rearward movement of said construction equipment,

an elevated platform `rearward of said forward ramp, and on a level with the rear of said forward ramp, support means for said elevated platform supporting said elevated platform substantially above the oor of said tunnel with clear working space below said elevated platform and a support for earth-loading equipment above said elevated platform, and means for slidably advancing said frame longitudinally as construction of said tunnel progresses, said frame being divided into a plurality of units each longitudinally slidably movable independent of the other and in which said last-named means comprises means for slidably moving said units apart in co-eXtending relationship to each other and subsequently moving said units together.

2. A system according to claim 1, which further comprises a rear ramp sloping downwardly-rearwardly from said elevated platform and terminating at a level slightly above the level of the floor of said tunnel.

3. A system according to claim 1 in which said lastnamed means comprises a cylinder having one end attached to one said unit and having a rod attached to the adjacent unit.

4. A system according to claim 1, in which said frame is formed with first roadbed means for earth-mucking equipment and muck cars centrally of its width and second roadbed means for gantry-type equipment along its side edges.

5. A system according to claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of stationary, transverse, longitudinally spaced rings supporting the walls of said tunnel and which further comprises support means for slidably supporting said frame from said rings.

i6. A system according to claim 2, which further comprises an invert on the bottom of said tunnel below said rearward ramp, and in which the rearward end of said rear ramp rests upon said invert.

'7. A system according to claim 2, which further cornprises an invert on the bottom of said tunnel below said rearward ramp and tracks on said invert, the rearward end of said Arear ramp resting on said tracks.

8. A system according to claim 4 in which said first roadbed means comprises tracks and said tracks are double at least at said elevated platform.

9. A system according to claim 5 in which said support means comprises clips xed to opposite sides of said rings and longitudinal rails on said frame slidable on said clips.

10. A system according to claim 9 in which at least said forward section rests directly on said rings.

11. A system according to claim 10, in which said forward section comprises a trough of arcuate cross-section conforming to the shape of the bottom of said tunnel.

12. A system according to claim 9, in which said trough carries trackways at about its lowest point and a depression between said trackways to accommodate the scoop of a mucking machine.

13. A method of providing support for tunnel construction equipment comprising:

establishing a longitudinally slidably movable frame in a tunnel having a forward section at about the level of the bottom of said tunnel, a front ramp rearward of said forward `section sloping upward-rearward, an elevated platform above the level of the bottom of said tunnel with a clear working space beneath said elevated platform, and a rear ramp sloping downward-rearward to about the level of the bottom of said tunnel;

muoking at said forward section and loading into muck cars; moving said muck cars rearward of said forward section over said front ramp, elevated platform and rear ramp and thence out of said tunnel;

and constructing a concrete invert under said elevated platform as said mucking continues, and digging said tunnel ahead of said frame and moving said frame forward as said digging continues, said frame being divided into units and in which said units are slidably longitudinally moved independently of other units to move said frame forward.

14. A method according to claim 13 which further comprises setting transverse, longitudinally spaced rings to support the walls of said tunnel as construction advances and which further comprises supporting said frame for longitudinal sliding movement on said rings.

vReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 811,404 1906 Iapp 61-84 816,040 3/ 1906 Reno 61-84 1,751,147 3/1930 Hackley 61-84X 1,792,084 2/1931 Glasser 61-45 X JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner. 

